South Korean investigators attempted to arrest ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol at his Seoul residence on Friday for his failed attempt to impose martial law on Dec. 3 but were confronted by the presidential security detail who, according to media reports, prevented them from achieving their goals. One of the IOC prosecutors, Lee Dae-hwan, accompanied by several other people, initially managed to cross the imposing security barrier erected in front of the presidential residence after the withdrawal of a bus which was blocking it.
A bus had been placed across the road to block the police convoy.
AFP
Blocked by soldiers
According to Yonhap, investigators then “confronted the presidential security service”, which had already prevented several searches at Mr. Yoon's home in recent days, citing a law on state secrets.
“The execution of the arrest warrant is illegal and invalid,” said the leader's lawyer, Yoon Kap-keun, announcing a new legal action to block this execution, in addition to those he has already filed for challenge the validity of the warrant itself.
An arrest of Yoon Suk Yeol, who officially remains the head of state and is only suspended pending confirmation by the Constitutional Court of his dismissal by mid-June, would be unprecedented in the history of the South Korea. The IOC has until January 6 to execute the arrest warrant issued by a Seoul court at its request.
IOC chief Oh Dong-woon warned that anyone who tried to prevent Mr. Yoon's arrest could face prosecution themselves.
Evangelists and YouTubers
Hundreds of Mr. Yoon's diehard supporters, including well-known far-right YouTubers and evangelical Christian preachers, camped near the presidential residence overnight from Thursday to Friday, with some holding all-night prayer sessions.
-“We are gathered here today, ready to risk our lives,” says Lee Hye-sook, 57, who accuses the opposition of “trying to transform our country into a socialist state similar to North Korea”.
According to Yonhap, some 2,700 police officers are deployed in the area, after clashes between supporters and detractors of the ousted president the previous evening.
“A complete wreck”
Yoon Suk Yeol stunned South Korea on the night of December 3 to 4 by imposing martial law and sending the army to Parliament to try to muzzle him, an episode that reminded the country of the dark hours of the military dictatorship .
He was forced to backtrack a few hours later, when MPs managed to enter Parliament and pass a motion demanding the lifting of martial law while their aides blocked the chamber doors with furniture and thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators gathered outside.
The 64-year-old former star prosecutor has shown no contrition since his dismissal by Parliament on December 14, even vowing in a letter to his supporters to “fight until the end”. “The Republic of Korea is currently in danger due to internal and external forces threatening its sovereignty, and the activities of anti-state elements.” The Democratic Party, the main opposition force, described these remarks as “delusional”.
Related News :